Schools Class "Cheltenham"

If only my lottery numbers would come up at the weekend....................

It's great to see her in steam at last. A real credit to the team who have worked on her. Another top MHR job. I look forward to my first run over the Alps behind her.

Any idea when she may be launched into MHR service Mark?

 

Wasn't it mentioned the launch was planned for the Septenber gala? I can sort of see why they would want to do it then, but a lot of people will be attending the gala regardless of 925's appearance. Personally I'd rather see it launched a separate weekend. It could bring in a lot of extra revenue on a quiet weekend.

By the way, well done MHR, NRM and KRS for getting 925 running again.

 

SECONDED, well done to all.

BTW your comment is noted concerning a separate launch date for 925.

Regards
CW:

 

That's news to me. I was led to believe Cheltenham won't be going mainline. I maybe wrong on this but the MHR doesn't run mainline locos after they pulled out of Day light tours.

 

I agree with a separate launch date. Get the people in for that and then again at the gala.

 

It has to be the right move from a financial standpoint.

 

WOW, Well done Smiffy, Daisy & co, now for the next one , only joking guys, you should once she is on the way to York take a short break in a previous post the subject of mainline running came up, its a non starter im afraid, the NRM and MHR have no plans, or budget to do any extra work, it would take someone with a large ammount of money to convince them to concider it and then they might still say no , the gubbings off 850 were sold so that set of mainline equipment isnt availible

 

The MHR Eastleigh Team would like to tackle 35005 Canadian Pacific next. We have a good gang of about 20 people. However the idea of overhauling "CP" at Eastleigh is just that at the moment, an idea. There are a few hurdles to get over first, a major one being the lack of cash. If you could all make a donation to the Canadian Pacific appeal through the watercressline.co.uk website, this will be a great help and make it more likely.

It is not widely known that the overhaul of "Cheltenham" at Eastleigh couldn't have happened without Bruce Knights of Knights Rail accommodating us in his premises for 18 months. The space could instead have been used for more commercial activities. God knows how we would have fitted 925 in at Ropley, I suspect we may have turned her down.


She has been in steam for the last 4 days, and has now retreated back inside for painting and lining. Check out our website blogs for further updates at www.watercressline.co.uk/loco news.

Regards
Chris
Project Leader 925

 

Thanks for the update Chris. Please can you confirm 925 won't be used until the steam gala in September?

 

Well done to all concerned (including Knights Rail) for the getting Cheltenham up and running. My favourite class so a shame there's no mainline future for her but it's understandable and expected.

What is a major blow is the last phrase telling of the sale of Nellie's gubbings. I can't express how disappointing I find that news.

Chris

 

Why such a blow? 850 is also not planned to go mainline, and if (big if) at the next overhaul that view were to change, then you can always acquire the equipment, or borrow it from the apple green engine that seems to be refusing to be overhauled.

 

The answer to that is simple: Such a powerful and distinctive sounding loco deserves to be out on the mainline and the last I heard was that the NRM was letting her go to Mid-Hants for 2 or 3 years to make sure everything was sorted and then consider her return to the big railway. Having heard nothing since the last bit of info was a disappointment.

Perhaps we should leave it there else we'll hi-jack this thread.

Chris

 

I would be happy to contribute to any locomotive's restoration if the intention was mainline running. I am not so inclined to put my hand in my pocket if for the next ten years the locomotive is going to shuffle up and down a short branch at 25 mph.

 

More to the point, wasnt mainline running part of the application for HLF money? Its one thing to take a break from the mainline, quite another to ditch it entirely.

Chris

 

Just seen the Youtube video - what a fabulous turn around, and well done the MHR and Knights Rail. She sounds terrific.

 

Correct!

Well done to Chris and the guys including the old man!

 

Britain's rarest steam train the No 925 Cheltenham chugs back onto the rails after 50 years | Mail Online

I know that any publicity is good publicity (as a certain airline is well aware ) but this is cringeworthy, even for the Wail...

That notwithstanding, well done to all concerned in the overhaul

Mark

 

Good to see the malachite green livery being retained for the time being. Have read elsewhere that 777 is to carry malachite green for the first time in preservation so, if true, will be good to see a pair of "Malachite Maunsells" at the MHR Gala in the autumn.

 

Have to disagree with you here. Malachite looks fine on the unrebuuilt Bulleid Pacifics, but on the Manusell engines, it can best be described as a ghastly interlude between Maunsell Olive Green and BR colours. While it's good to see 925 in steam again regardless, I'm reallly gutted about (30)777, and as for the ugly wartime black livery now defacing M7 No. 53 and USA No. 65.......